News publishers push back against Apple over app store terms, seek same deal as Amazon

Apple usually takes between 15 per cent and 30 per cent from news publishers for first-time subscriptions made through apps on the store

However, it has a reduced rate for Amazon, which major news publishers say they should also qualify for

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Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during an announcement of new products at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California on June 4, 2018. Photo: AP

Published: 9:36am, 21 Aug 2020Updated: 9:36am, 21 Aug 2020

Major news publishers are seeking more favourable terms from Apple on commissions the iPhone maker collects from them on payments made through its app store, according to a letter posted by a trade body on Thursday.

Digital Content Next (DCN), which represents New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and other publishers, posted the letter, addressed to Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook, on its website.

Apple, which usually takes a cut that ranges between 15 per cent and 30 per cent from news publishers for first-time subscriptions made through apps on the store, has a reduced rate for Amazon.

In a House Judiciary Committee hearing last month, Cook said the reduced rate was available to any developer who met certain conditions.

News publishers should qualify for the same terms offered to Amazon for its Prime Video app on Apple’s app store, DCN Chief Executive Officer Jason Kint suggested in Thursday’s letter to Cook.

“I ask that you clearly define the conditions that Amazon satisfied for its arrangement so that DCN’s member companies meeting those conditions can be offered the same agreement.”